Broom bristle segregating machine



Jan. 26, 1965 E. L. ALDRICH BROOM BRISTLE SEIGREZGATING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1965 INVENTOR Ewfleo 0 Q1. 0210/ A r raQA EY5.

Jan. 26, 1965 E. L. ALDRICH BROOM BRISTLE SEGREGATING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1963 INVENTOR. 152140920 l. JQLDE/CH BY IUnited States Patent 3,167,355 BROOM BRISTLE SEGREGATING MACHINE EdwardL. Aldrich, Bakersfield, Caliii, assignor to David F. Demarest, EastOrange, NJ. Filed Jan. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 249,681 Claims. (Cl. 309-118)This invention has to do generally with the segregation of bristles froma relatively bulk mass, of lesser numbers that may be required forcertain purposes. More specifically, the invention is concerned withapparatus for thus segregating bristles in proper quantitiesindividually required for making or filling street sweeper brushes orbrooms, and specifically gutter brooms.

My general object is to provide simple and effective apparatus wherebyfrom a bulk assemblage of elongated bristles, it is possible tosegregate a predetermined lesser number conveniently delivered for usein filling them into a street gutter sweeping broom.

structurally, the invention contemplates improved apparatus whereby abulk mass of the bristles is subjected to longitudinal vibration whichresults in segregation and passage of a predetermined number andarrangement of the bristles through apertures from which the bristlesare gathered for convenient handling.

in its preferred form, the invention provides a simple assembly of avertically reciprocated or vibrated receptacle, conveniently in the formof an open top tube, at the lower portion of which is provided anarrangement of apertures each adapted to receive and pass a singlebristle, and into which the bristles are directed by the combinedeffects of the aperture formation and vibration imparted to thereceptacle. Simple provision may be made for receiving and gathering thebristles passed through the apertures, by mounting stationarily belowthe receptacle a convergent open end gathering tube through which thebristles pass to be taken in bunched condition, all as will laterappear.

The above mentioned, as Well as additional features and objects of theinvention will be understood more fully from the following detaileddescription of an illustrative embodiment shown by the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the apparatus in front elevation;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section enlargement showing the lower portion ofthe bristle receptacle and gathering tube below;

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross section on line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus is shown .to comprise asuitable frame structure generally indicated at 10, comprising a base 11and vertical members 12 converging at 12a to a top interconnecting plate13. The frame structure supports a vertically reciprocable bristlereceptacle generally indicated at 14, preferably in the form of tube 15open at its upper end for reception of bulk mass of metallic, natural orsynthetic fiber bristles 16. The receptacle 15 may be mounted forvertical reciprocation or vibration in any suitable manner, as byvertically spaced sets of flexible supports 17 extending between andsecured to the receptacle-carried and framesupported brackets 18 and 19,respectively. The supports 17 may be of any suitable relatively thinmetal, or non-metallic material such as reinforced rubber, belting orthe like, held to the brackets by fasteners 20.

The tube 14 may be subjected to axial vibration by any of various knownvibrating mechanisms such as a wheel 21 having its axle 22 journaled inbearing 23 attached to the tube, the Wheel being unbalanced as by anattached weight 24 so that on rotation the unbalanced forces tend "iceto vertically reciprocate or vibrate the tube. The wheel 21 is shown tobe driven from the frame mounted motor 25 by way of belt 26.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, to the bottom flange 15a of the tube 15 issecured by bolts 27 an intermediate guide disc 28 and a lower orificeplate 29. The disc 28 has a central opening defined by the downwardlyand inwardly inclined guide surface 28a about a horizontal distributionof orifices 30 in plate 29. The illustrated plate with its containedorifices is to be regarded merely as illustrative of any suitable meansfor presenting at the bottom of the receptacle 15, a predeterminednumber and arrangement of apertures for selectively receiving andpassing the bristles 16. So typified, the mouths of the apertures 30appear in plan as having slotted configurations, see FIG. 5, with .theedges 31 of the mouths being tapered inwardly .to guide the bristlesinto the orifice extents below.

The bristle gathering means is shown to comprise an open end, downwardlytapered tube 32 stationarily mounted below and in axial alignment withthe receptacle 15, as by arms 33 attached to the frame uprights 12.Being aligned also with the aperture plate 29, the enlarged top mouth ofthe tube 32 receives the bristles that have passed through the orificesand progressively gathers them into bunched condition so that they maybe conveniently grasped at 34 below the .tube for removal. Thesegregated bristles not only are thus bunched, but longitudinallyconformed by being dropped to rest on base plate 35.

In operation, the vibrating receptacle 15 agitates the bristles so thatindividually they enter the apertures 30 toward which the outer bristlesare guided down along the inclined surface 28a. The vibration assuresthat each of the apertures 39 will receive and pass an individualbristle down into the gathering tube 32 below in a very short period oftime, thus assuring delivery of a predetermined number of the bristlesas may be required. It will be apparent that different similar orificeplates 29 may be substituted to feed out greater or lesser numbers ofbristles. The latter fall by gravity down through the gathering tube forremoval as previously indicated when each segregation is completed.

As the drawings indicate, the bristles dropped through the orifices ontoplate 35 remain at their upper ends Within the orifices 30, thusassuring such arrested positioning of the passed bristles until all theorifices are oc cupied and therefore the desired predetermined number ofbristles have been segregated from the bulk mass in the vibratingreceptacle. The gathered bristles have sufficient extent at 34 below thetube 32, to be capable of being deflected and pulled down out of theorifices and the gathering tube.

It will be understood that the drawings are to be regarded asillustrative of the invention in a typical though preferred embodiment,and that various changes and modifications may be made without departurefrom the intended spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for segregating elongated bristles comprising,

(A) a frame structure,

(B) a vertically positioned bulk bristle receptacle supported by saidframe for vertical reciprocation,

(C) means for vertically reciprocating said receptacle and its containedbristles,

(D) means forming apertures in predetermined number and arrangementwhich receive and pass the bristles being reciprocated, and

(E) means including a downwardly tapered guide positioned below saidreceptacles for receiving and gathering together the bristles passedthrough said aper- .tures, said guide being adaptedtopass the lowerextents of the bristles in gathered condition. 2. Apparatus forsegregating elongated bristles comprising, a a

(A) a frame structure, 3 a (B) avertically positioned tubular open .topbulk bristle receptacle, (C) flexible means" mounting said receptacleframe structure for vertical movement, 7 (D) means for verticallyvibrating said receptacle; (E) means forming apertures in predeterminednumher and arrangement at the lower portion of saidl receptacle, and

(F) stationary means positioned below said receptacle a I v and adaptedto'gathertogether and pass toa location below said stationary rneans'the relatively widely distributed bristlcspassing through saidorifices.

to the.

enemas I bra'ting means (D) cornprises a motor mounted on-the framestructure, and a rotating unbalanced mass carried "by the receptacle anddriven by said motor. 7

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said aperture forming means(E) comprises a horizontal distribution of apertures havingenlarged'upper downwardly convergent mouths below which the aperturesare reduced.

5. Apparatus according to claim ,4, comprising means forming adownwardly and inwardly inclined'guide surface surrounding" saidapertur'es'and acting to direct'the lower ends of the bristles into theapertures.

References Cited :iiithe file'of this patent v UNITEDSTATES PATENTS I I492,032 Lee" Feb.'2 1,- 1893

1. APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING ELONGATED BRISTLES COMPRISING, (A) A FRAMESTRUCTURE, (B) A VERTICALLY POSITIONED BULK BRISTLE RECEPTACLE SUPPORTEDBY SAID FRAME FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION, (C) MEANS FOR VERTICALLYRECIPROCATING SAID RECEPTACLE AND ITS CONTAINED BRISTLES. (D) MEANSFORMING APERTURES IN PREDETERMINED NUMBER AND ARRANGEMENT WHICH RECEIVEAND PASS THE BRISTLES BEING RECIPROCATED, AND (E) MEANS INCLUDING ADOWNWARDLY TAPERED GUIDE POSITIONED BELOW SAID RECEPTACLES FOR RECEIVINGAND GATHERING TOGETHER THE BRISTLES PASSED THROUGH SAID APERTURES, SAIDGUIDE BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THE LOWER EXTENTS OF THE BRISTLES INGATHERED CONDITION.